Welcome to the Hertfordshire Oil Storage Limited (HOSL) website

The purpose of our website is to provide information on the activities being undertaken by HOSL following the explosion that occurred at the Buncefield Oil Terminal in December 2005.

We have worked hard to respond positively to the situation, with the concerns of the local community and local businesses central to all of our work. The three key priorities for our activity have been:

1. Supporting the local community.

   
   

   Our foremost priority is to help all those affected by the incident at Buncefield. While investigations continue to determine the causes and subsequent legal liability, we have set up a system to provide immediate assistance to those residents and businesses affected. We have donated over £500,000 to the Mayor's fund to provide ongoing help to the community.
   
   
   
   In addition, we have donated £8,000 to the Hemel Hempstead Citizens Advice Bureau to help meet the costs of an increase in demand for their services following the incident.

   
   

   To find out more, please click here.



2. Cleaning the site
   
   

   Since the incident, we have worked closely with both the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and Environment Agency (EA) and have made excellent progress in the clean up of the site. Demolition work has been completed and all tanks have been dismantled and removed from HOSL West, the area worst affected by the fire. All firewater has been removed and successfully treated, following independent research commissioned by HOSL.

   
   

   Soil and groundwater at the site and in the immediate vicinity are monitored on a regular basis, and results indicate that the situation is stable.

   
   

   Our priority throughout has been to ensure that work is completed safely, to the highest standards and with minimum impact on the environment.

   
   

   To find out more, please click here.



3. Assisting with the investigations
   
   

   It is of paramount importance to us, as it is to the local community and industry, to understand how this incident happened. We continue to cooperate fully with the Major Investigation Incident Board (MIIB), HSE and the EA as they progress with their investigations.

   
   

   To find out more, please click here.




What happens next?




A civil trial begins on the 1 October to determine liability for the incident. The judge has indicated that he would like the trial to end by December 2008, with a verdict anticipated in Spring 2009.

HOSL’s western site, which sustained the greatest damage, has not been in operation since the incident and no decision has yet been taken on the future of the site.


HOSL’s eastern site remained inactive until October 2007 when Total was given permission by all the relevant bodies to refurbish three tanks on the site and resume distribution of aviation fuel to Heathrow through the Finaline.